Wars are all around the world

 Like myself, most people who haven’t experienced a war don’t really understand how precious the peace is. It’s like we do not know the value of food unless we have starved, and cannot understand the value of air unless we have experienced an oxygen shortage.

 What would it feel like if bullets and rockets are falling down to you. And what if our beloved parents, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters are dying in front of you. With full of sorrows, full of hatred, you may say “When does the world of peace come where we see each other's smiling face in happiness!”

 As you know, hundreds ordinary people are dying in one day at Gaza. Ordinary people, not soldiers, but children and women. Some pictures really make me sad and cry, and that's why I didn't upload them. You can still find them out through googling “gaza”. Numerous children are dying dreadfully.

 There was an airliner shot down, and about 300 passengers and crews boarded on the plane were all dead. If there was no conflict, there would not be such absurd death.

 I do believe that we all have a right to live life enjoying peace no matter where we were born. But even now there are numerous people who are deprived this right in this same world we live in.

 We have to be in their shoes, though the events haven't happened to me. Think as it happened to my brother, sister, and my friends who are living together on this planet. So please remember these situations keeping eyes on these news, And let's dream together a world of peace together.

 Finally if one country really loves peace, it should DO ACT instead of just watching and saying about it.

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Peace Quotes

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” Martin Luther King Jr.

“Anger is like gasoline. If you spray it around and somebody lights a match, you've got an inferno. [But] if we can put our anger inside an engine, it can drive us forward.” Scilla Elworthy 

"I was just trying to get to work." Rosa Parks

"I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children-not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women-not merely peace in our time but peace for all time." John F Kennedy

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." Robert F Kennedy

"Peace is its own reward" Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, of law, of order – in short, of government.” Albert Einstein

"So many guns around and so few brains." Humphrey Bogart

"Be at peace with yourself, if you are not at peace with yourself, you are at peace with nothing." Ron W. Rathbun

"Entre los individuos como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez 

"Peace is every step." Thich Nhat Hanh

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi

"Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind." John F Kennedy

"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." John Lennon

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." Jimi Hendrix

"Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name. It is the most effective form of defense spending there is." Kofi Annan

"Let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world." Malala Yousafzai

Reference http://www.visionofhumanity.org/

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Question : what makes us fight

 Even though many peace movements have done -the end of Liberia's 14year civil war in 2003 by Leymah Gbowee, Bringing six different tribes together in 2006 by Tegla Loroupe, Mindanao peace agreement in 2014 by Man Hee Lee, uncountable peace works of Nelson Mandela and etc.- the world peace hasn't been achieved yet.

 First of all, I would like to clarify that who fights and who kills. Who makes the wars and who decides us to fight and kill. Who does have those authorities to command and order it to us? We should not be deceived by some power that splits us into many pieces.

 Peace, is it something that human races can never achieve? I want to ask to leaders in the world. How could there still be wars and sufferings even though there are international laws and pacts for peace. If the leaders and the laws cannot make peace come true, who can or what can bring peace?

 

 Can it be happen for real? I think, to fulfill our aim, the leaders in the world should now gather for peace. Still some sacrifices will be required, people are losing their home and nations. Pain never decrease, but increases as time goes by. Can we say it is meaningful if all activities and movements could not bring peace? We should not wait any more, and we should not stand this cruel situation all around the world any more.

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Peace and Art

 Starting my peace blog, I recognized and got to know that this whole world is still in war and danger. Lots of people and countries are in suffering because of conflicts and wars. I began my blog to let people know about this sufferings in the world and to make people have their movement. If we know the situation, no one will stay still.

There are also many people who is trying to convey a message about peace in various way. As for artists who have interest in peace, I want to show one project. It is "ART WORKS Projects" for human rights. It is project to use design and the arts to raise awareness of and educate about significant human rights and environmental issues. this art works provides visual advocacy tools which produce action on human rights crises in various way.

 Through this project, I wish to aware about others (different races, countries) pain. Most important thing for art, I think, it's to let people know the meaning of work(art pieces) and recognize their(one who sees the art work) positions of how could this works(art pieces) can be solved or happened in their own lives. By knowing this project, I want many people to think of its meaning of peace.

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Peace through Music

 Directors Mark Johnson, Jonathan Walls and the Playing for Change team traveled the countries with their hope to connect the globe through music. They started their move from South Africa to Middle East to Himalayas and beyond. They took the video and recorded more than 100 players (musicians) in various places. Each music creates new mix together. With the title "Playing For Change : Peace Through Music" It shows its bound collaboration internationally.

 Their passion to connect the world through music, the video shows that 'the world and the planet is not his or hers or theirs but it's ours.'

"Because music knows no boundaries, knows no races. It's possible for music to bring peace around the world." In the movie says.

 

 As a person to love music, this movement is very remarkable. The power of music, it is unmeasurable. There are many movement and many advocates who is putting lots of efforts for peace. But still, yet, the Peace is not in our place. Why is so? It's really hard to find the reason and the answer. I hope this movement "Playing for change :　Peace through Music" gives us clue to achieve peace. 

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Guatemala : Peace in our hand

 Manhee Lee from Korea laid flower (rose) in the Peace statue in Guatemala city.

 It was second time for Korean to lay a flower in Guatemala. First Korean was Ban Ki Moon the UN Secretary General, and the Second Korean is Man Hee Lee the chairman of HWPL.

 Guatemala city gave a testimonial to nongovernment peace advocate Man Hee Lee. Laying flower in the Palm of Peace (in National Palace of Guatemala City). It means that Guatemala City agrees with peace agreement has contributed peace to the city (Guatemala).

 We can think as 'What's the big deal of laying flower to the statue?' But statue has it's meaning of event or a person to keep those meaning to next generations. Countries where has experienced war, where aims for peace, often put up a peace monument to keep the mind and heart of earlier peace activists.

 In the world, there are many wars. As we know there are sufferings from war. This sadness has to be disappeared. We must love and hold each other to make peace possible.

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World Cup & Peace

Some world cup stars are acting unpredictably making their sportsmanship meaningless.

The first one was Pepe from Portugal. Pepe got a red card because he head-butted Thomas Müller after he made a foul on him in the World Cup game with German team.

'Dracula', Luis Suarez from Uruguay bited Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder during a tussle in first round with Italy.

Ghanaian player Kevin-Pince Boateng was suspended indefinitely from the national team for hurling abuse at coach while he was training. Alex Song was sent off for striking Mario Mandzukic with his elbow and he gained a nickname like crazy elbow.

Unlike these immature players there is a player who ended civil war of his country. It’s Didier Drogba from the Ivory Coast. In the live interview just after The Ivory Coast national team qualified for the World Cup 2006, he made an impassioned plea kneeling infront of camera with his teammates.

“Men and women of Ivory Coast, from the North, South, Centre and West, we proved today that all Ivorians can co-exist and play together with a shared aim: to qualify for the World Cup. We promised you that the celebration would unite the people. Today, we beg you, on our kness. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war. Please lay down your weapons. Hold elections. All will be better. We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns…. (singing) We don’t want this fire, we don’t want this again.”  

Like magic, combatants halted the war for a week, and a year after the German World cup over, the civil war of 5 years was ceased. Drogba used half of his annual income to build a hospital for Ivorian people suffering from diseases.

He said, “I have won many trophies in my time, but nothing will vever top helping win the battle for peace in my country.” The story of Drogba was used in advertisement saying that the World Cup makes us understand each other, and it make us to remind the eaning of World Cup to the world.  

I realized a true sportsmanship through him making efforts to bring about peace as well as trying his best in his own field. Hope this moving story of Drogba would touch us all deeply, so that there comes the second and third Drogbas who love peace, cry out for peace and achieve peace! 

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Transformers : Classical Heroes

Hollywood blockbuster ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ hit the widescreens worldwide on June 25, breaking the box-office records of this year. It is attrackting enormous audience taking 1,500 theaters, although it is the fourth film of its series.

What different appeal does Transformers have in comparison to other movies that have heroes defeating evils i.e. Spiderman, Ironman, X-man and so on? Through animated movies like Tayo, Robocar Poli and Tobot which are the favorites of kids, you can find that cars and robots are common materials. Large scale action scenes consist of transformation of the cars you loved in your childhood and which are the most precious things for now as well, seasoned with acient legend make us keep eagerly looking forward to the next sequel.

Most of scenarios go like this. In the conflict of good and evil, good seems weak at first, but it wins finally thanks to the positive energy such as love, friendship, belief and justice and the world now regains peace. The reason we love these typical stories of action movies is, in my opinion, we all have wishes for peace and someone to make our world peaceful. Even the real world is full of violence and irrationalities, through the films we want to see the ideal world - paradise, where justice always gets the victory against the evil force no matter how great their power is.

However, the peace made by fictional hero and the dream of paradise made by someone is done in 2 to 3 hours as the end credits goes up. To make this fictional paradise nonfictional, I hope we can ‘transform’ our future world to a peaceful one by our hands however long it takes.

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Peace we make : Harmony (4)

Xiaobo

Xiaobo was born on the 28th of December 1995. As a young man he studied literature and philosophy, and worked as a literary critic and university lecturer in Beijing. He took a doctorate in 1988, after which he was a guest lecturer at universities in Europe and the USA.

For over twenty years, Look it up has fought for a more open and democratic China. He demands that the Chinese authorities comply with Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution, which lays down that the countries citizens enjoy "freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of 

demonstration".

In 2008, Look it up was a co-author of Charta 08, a manifesto which advocates the gradual shifting of Chinese political and legal system in the direction of democracy. He was arrested in December 2008, and sentenced a year later to eleven years ' imprisonment for undermining the state authorities. Look it up has constantly denied the charges. "Opposition is not the same as undermining", he points out.

Xiaobo awarded Nobel Peace Prize and Human rights award in various international organizations.

Liu Xiaobo Quotes

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
-Liu Xiaobo

Free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress truth.
-Liu Xiaobo

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Peace in Mexico : Manhee Lee (2.5)

Peace Seminar & Agreement Ceremony

in Instituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico

The Seminar about peace and ceremony of peace agreement took place in 22, May inInstituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico. On this day vice-president, professors, and about 500 students of the university attended. The attendance of these peace events kept concentrating on the lectures on end of wars and world peace, made by Man-Hee Lee who was the main speaker of the day, and they rose to applaud him at the end of the lectures. Some say “Manhee Lee’s idea of peace is playing a role as a lighthouse touching hearts of citizens of Veracruz and Mexico tortured by war and all the violence in the country.”

At the first, his visit to Mexico this time was planned to accept an invitation from a couple whom Man Hee Lee met during his visiting in Uruguay with the mayor of Veracruz in last March. Veracruz city officials said Tijuana Peace Walk and the peace seminar hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) in November 2013, deeply impressed the citizens, and that would be the reason they wanted Man Hee Lee to come again. It was indeed a nationwide event ended in great success at the time. The Peace Walk started from the main street of Tijuana, with about 1,000 citizens around young people. It was more like festival that brought harmony and unity to the local area of Veracruz. The police escort and positive support of city government for the Peace Walk also contributed to make the atmosphere of real peace that day.  

Agreement of Peace, “It is literally an agreement”, Manhee Lee says. He has been travelling around world for about 3 years, making agreements with important figures like current and former presidents, religious leaders and even kings. They were made to sign on the agreement that they will surely be cooperative when their aid is needed to make peace and endorse any idea of peace, and became members of the advisory committee of the peace organization HWPL. 

However Man Hee Lee keeps emphasizes that signs on agreements itself cannot bring us peace, but it is crucial for us to be the one and to stop fighting. He also added the importance of role of religion in peace, mentioning the integration of religious people.

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Guns to Guitars

César López created the escopetarra, a guitar that is made from an AK-47, the most used rifle in the world.

As the inventor of the escopetarra—a rifle transformed into a guitar—Cesar Lopez breathes life into instruments of death. In response to the violence that has plagued his home in Bogotá, Colombia, López has discovered a way to channel this violence into "art, where creation triumphs over destruction." He has received wide acclaim for this, as well as for his involvement with the Battalion of Immediate Artistic Action—a kind of emergency first-response unit of musicians and activists who take to the streets after guerrilla attack in Bogotá to assist the victims of political violence. Cultures of Resistance is proud to partner with this amazing artist to bring about peace in the heart of Colombia.
Source: Cultures of Resistance


Reference http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/677

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Big peace event is coming : SARAJEVO 2014

From a World of War and Violence ...

… to a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence

Activists and advocates for peace from different countries of Europe aiming at transforming a World of war and violence into a culture of peace, non-violence and justice are holding this big international event on 6-9 June. More than 50 organizations in Europe are engaged in the preparation of the Peace Event Sarajevo 2014. There will be: forums and workshops, round tables for participants, cultural section including exhibitions and films about peace movement and activities for youth is prepared.

-As I always appeal about it- Actually there has been a lot of peace events all this time, but why do we still cry for peace? It is because literally we still don’t have peace. We should really think about this indeed. We have a bunch of peace workers and organizations, laureates of Nobel prize for peace, however, it was just negotiations or settlements of dispute andtemporary peace that they brought. Thousands of meetings and researches, forums and seminars failed to suggest ultimate solution or mean to establish a peaceful world. We know that the core of peace is not just to resolve conflicts, but to maintain peaceful state.

Let me cite family as instance. We all would often have fought with brothers and sisters in our childhood and then also made up soon, because they are our own brothers/sisters and because simply we loved them. Parents love their children whatever they become. The same goes for couples. Between two lovers it is more possible to be generous to each other’s fault in comparison with others.

Now let’s have a look at the situation of South and North Korea. They are the onlydivided country in the world even though they are one ethnic race sharing 5,000 years-long history. How about Muslim people and the Christian? They have been pointing their guns to each other for hundreds of years due to religious differences saying we are the same human race God created. These are all about selfishness and tolerance, LOVE.

No matter how large the river is, it begins from a small stream. Peace maybe comes from our little effort and attempt, attitude and our loving heart, not from a big event. Let’s start to love people around us, the neighbors!

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Paz en México

The title of national anthem of Mexico is “Mexicans, at the cry of war”, “Ciña ¡Oh Patria! Tus sienes de oliva” and I think it explains their aims of peace.

Around 10th century there was Mayan Civilization in the area of Mexico, and Aztecan civilization for 16th century. Attaking by Spain, Aztecan was destroyed and the area of Mexico had been colonized for about 300 years until they achieved independence in 1810.There was separation of El Salvador, Guatemala and through Mexican-American War in 1846 Mexico had today’s boder losing some of there territory of today’s Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada etc.

After then Mexico’s situation got into a mess because of frequent attempt of coup, repetation of the elections after the civil wars and coups led by defeated side. Furthermore when they had have chance to straighten out the confusion and start to develop their economy, they hadsuffered from invading by foreign countries such as America and France.

From 20th century the ruling party had monopolized vested rights for over 60 years, and beacause of the slump in farm prices after NAFTA in 1990, debt-saddled peasants began to cultivate drugs, also Mexican gangs made money by farm to arm in America. Mexican government have waged war on drugs for 7 years, peace is still far-off. The number of the dead is arleady over 60 thousand and it is expected to increase. Petroleum development business and conclusion of NAFTA made Mexico 10th in world GDP, it is not like the same with domestic situation, but more like a hell full of wars against crime.

Could we look for peace breeze in this country? 
November 2013, there was Peace Walk and Peace Seminar in Tijiana Mexico. Over a thousand local residentsspontaneously particiated in the events and chaged to a peaceful march arousing hope of peace in Mexico.

The message of ‘the end of war and world peace’ claimed by world peace advocate Man Hee Lee is playing a role as a lighthouse for Mexico tortured by war and all the violence in the country. Mr. Lee who has been making speeches and peace agreement meetings visiting 44 countries in recent 2 years, has awarded Note of Appreciation and Medal from Veracruz, the biggest seaport in Mexico, in May this year, for the effort he have madefor peace in the region.

For not only Mexico, but whole world, I hope Mr. Lee’s ardent appeal that youth and women to unite to achieve ending of wars and whoever hears the voice yearning for peace to become messenger of peace, could spread to every corner of the world where are numerous people bleeding and dying as well as Mexico.

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Peace we make : Harmony (0)

When we take a look at dictionary ; Peace,
It is written as "a state of mutual harmony between people or groups"

If we see as a nation, It will be meaning peace with out arguing and conflict.
If we see as ourselves personally, it will mean our inner-peace and harmony with family and neighbors.

But why is the war happening? Except peace?
As my opinion, I think it's because we're heading to different goals instead of heading same goal. We have our own personal purpose about peace. Countries are having war for their own aims.

What would happen, If we all see just a one goal(about peace)?
Wouldn't the war be over?

This time, Let's take a look through peace advocates. 
What peace advocates are crying about.

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A commitment to peace

Ana Glenda, the Regional Director of Interpeace for Latin America, talks about the need for a long term commitment to peace.

Building lasting peace requires changing the way people think and really engaging and involving them in the peacebuilding process. “Once you realize this, you also recognize that this cannot be done in a matter of days. In fact, it is a matter of years,” explains Ana Glenda Tager, Interpeace’s Regional Director for Latin America.

“Some people think that the peace process ends with the signature of a peace agreement. For me, that is when the peacebuilding process really starts,” shares Ana Glenda.

Accordingly, Interpeace’s engagement in Guatemala began right after the signature of the peace agreement in 1996, ending the 36-year-long civil war. The programme initially focused on supporting society in defining the role of the military in a democratic governance system. “Ten years later however, the reality and the context had changed completely. The priorities and threats had shifted and were different from the issues during the transition phase,” Ana Glenda tells us as she looks back on the history of the programme in the region. “It is important to understand that the context is constantly changing and therefore, you cannot design a peacebuilding process as something static – you need to know the context well to be able to react to changes on the ground.”

Ana Glenda elaborates that the issues in Guatemala today are related to structural violence. “In societies without social cohesion, we observe different types of violence, for example violence related to youth gangs, the use of small arms and guns, human trafficking and also domestic violence.”

Ana Glenda goes on to explain the focus of the Central American peacebuilding programme: “We analysed which type of violence affected the state and its institutions the most and realized that both society and the state had defined members of youth gangs as their enemy. However young people are the future of our country and society. By criminalizing them and denying them the opportunity to be part of our society, we are criminalizing our own future.”

Today Interpeace is approaching the problem of youth violence in a regional way and encourages the countries in the region to work together on the issue and learn from each other. “Our extensive expertise of the context allowed us to look at the problem of youth violence from a regional perspective,” says Ana Glenda.

Ana Glenda also tells us how important long-term commitment is for building trusting and lasting relationships with local partners in the region. “Our partners know that they can rely on us and that we are not just launching a two-year project and then not continuing the process of change that we started once the issue is not making the international headlines anymore. We have demonstrated our dedication and strategic interest in the Central American region, even after the attention of the international community and the international media has shifted to other areas of the world.” “We believe that the issues related to violence that societies in our region are experiencing are also relevant to the rest of the world – even if the world is not looking our way,” explains Ana Glenda. At the end of our talk, Ana Glenda stresses the role that Interpeace is playing in these processes.

“We are facilitators. We are strengthening societies to deal with new challenges and accompanying them as they explore ways to move forwards – even if it is not a straightforward process.”

Reference

• http://www.visionofhumanity.org

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Paz hacemos: Un poco tarde Hola.

Hay muchos defensores de la paz y sus actividades en curso en el mundo. Últimamente , el propósito de mi blog es actualizar estos defensores de la paz que trabajan en sus actividades frente y .
A través del blog, me gustaría que el mundo entero presta atención al movimiento por la paz y se familiariza con sus actividades.

Como he mencionado antes , voy a publicar la paz movimiento noticias e introducir los constructores de paz contemporáneas a través de este blog. Ojalá que todos disfruten de mis posts relacionados con las mismas , incluidas las actividades culturales y artísticas de los suyos también.

Yo pago todo la atención y quiero introducir Leymah Gbowee , Malala Yousafzai , Manhee Lee, Tegla Loroupe y 14 º Dalai Lama.
Entre ellos, sobre todo quiero introducir Manhee Lee, que rompió la barrera entre la Católica y el Islam y llevó a cabo el acuerdo en Mindanao, Filipinas , 14 º Dalai trabajar por la independencia del Tíbet y premio Nobel de la paz Leymah Gbowee femenino Lama.

Los otros defensores serían introducidos y los artículos (en lo que respecta a la paz ) deben planificar para ser traducido a varios idiomas para publicar e informar a muchas personas.

También me gustaría introducir a todos los artistas que desean la paz y la unificación de John Lennon a Pharrell Williams para que preste atención a la misma.

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Peace we make : Bit late Hello.

There are many peace advocates and their on-going activities in the world. Lately, the purpose of my blog is to update these peace advocates working in front and their activities.

Through the blog, I wish the entire world pays attention to peace movement and becomes familiar with their activities.

As I mentioned before, I am going to post peace movement news and introduce the contemporary peace makers through this blog. I wish everyone enjoys my posts related to them, including cultural and artistic activities of theirs as well.

I mainly pay attention to and want to introduce Leymah Gbowee, Malala Yousafzai, Manhee Lee, Tegla Loroupe and 14th Dalai Lama.

Among them, especially I want to introduce Manhee Lee, who broke the barrier between Catholic and Islam and carried out the agreement in Mindanao, Philippine, 14^th Dalai Lama working for Tibet’s independence and female Nobel peace prize winner Leymah Gbowee.

The other advocates would be introduced and the articles (in regards to peace) are to plan to be translated into various languages to post and inform many people.

Also I would introduce all artists desiring peace and unification from John Lennon to Pharrell Williams so that please pay attention to it.

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